Christ calls all of his followers to be missionary. He chooses some to be missionary priests.
The spirit of a Scarboro missionary priest flows from our response to the mandate of Jesus Christ entrusted to his disciples: “Go out into the whole world: proclaim the Good News to all creation.” (Mk 16:15)
Commitment to Christ
It’s a radical Gospel commitment, originating in Christ’s words to his disciples, “You did not choose me. No, I chose you; to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” (Jn 15:16) Christ is the foundation and focus of our lives, our energy for mission.
Commitment for Life
We offer our lives for the Reign of God, committed to the person, teaching and mission of Jesus Christ. Living this out takes us on an adventure for life beyond the familiar, to peoples and cultures of the world.
Commitment to Risk Facing the Unknown
Willingness to risk and to face the unknown are part of the life of a missionary priest…in the words of the Apostle Paul, “going as by faith and not by sight—we are full of confidence.” (2 Cor 5:7)
Commitment to Be Servants of God’s Word
Scarboro priests serve the Word of God in ways suited to the uniqueness of the peoples to whom we go; through teaching, dialogue, prayer, celebration, and the witness of our person and lifestyle.
Commitment through the Sacraments
Through the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Scarboro priests—together with the community, small or large—worship and give thanks to God, who nourishes, forgives, heals, and renews us. We are those who have tasted the “goodness of the Lord” and are challenged to be active in sharing Christ’s mission.
Commitment to Bridge Gaps
Through dialogue and friendship, Scarboro priests develop a deep respect for peoples of other religious traditions and cultures. We find ourselves at times like bridges between them and our culture and religious beliefs. We learn to witness humbly to Christ among them and discover the Spirit of God, mysteriously, wonderfully, at work.
Commitment to Justice & Peace
Over the years, our priests have found themselves called to be advocates for justice and peace among the poor and marginalized. We also witness to how the oppressed—when brought together and guided by the ideals of the Gospel—are able to employ their gifts for their own common good and for the future.
Commitment to Witness to the Sacred
Scarboro missioners see the urgency today of giving witness to the sacredness of the earth itself. We strive toward the ideal that invites all people to care for the God-given gifts of all creation, which sustain us.
In the Spirit of our Founder
All Scarboro missioners continue to witness to the spirit of our founder, Msgr. John Mary Fraser. He had a zeal for mission, love of people, faith and trust in God’s providence, supported the local church, lived a simple lifestyle, and had a readiness to communicate the experience of mission back home.
Let us feel that it is our duty to become
real saints if we wish to be real missioners.
—Msgr. John Mary Fraser, S.F.M.